The Roosters and Rabbitohs will add another chapter to their traditional rivalry on Friday night but unfortunately for them it's set to be overshadowed with a host of Origin stars out of action.
MORE: Ask the Lurker: Sandor Earl set for NRL return?
While South Sydney will field a near full-strength squad, the fourth-placed Roosters are without Boyd Cordner, Mitchell Pearce, Dylan Napa and Blake Ferguson.
Unsurprisingly coach Trent Robinson isn't too happy about the timing of the grudge match and feels the NRL is letting the rich rivalry down by scheduling it prior to Origin.
"I think you've got to remember that you can't forget about rivalries in our sport," Robinson said.
"The scheduling this year of our rounds haven't brought on that clash, haven't built up that rivalry like it should externally which brings crowds, which brings money into our game.
"The scheduling of it is disappointing this year, our two Souths games."
With the two clubs first meeting in 2017 shifted from a season opener to a round four affair, Robinson thinks poor scheduling is letting his club down at the ticket gate.
"There's a lot of talk at the moment about the finances in our game and things for the clubs are gate revenue and that's enhanced by our Souths games, the scheduling of those games have been really important in the past," Robinson said.
"You'll often have families, one will be a Rooster and one will be a Rabbit, and they bring out good rivalries and they bring out a good contest in our area.
"We haven't had bad scheduling this year but our Souths games, they're not optimising that rivalry."
While the timing of the clash certainly doesn't suit the Roosters, Robinson will be buoyed by the fact his side have won three of their last four games against the Rabbitohs.
